Davie, FL - Help me crush an untouched honey hole!

[Seth Dixon]

Hi All,

I’ve just rented an Airbnb for the next two weeks in a house right on a lake in Davie, FL off the the turnpike. It’s a large square lake, zero pressure but I see bass crushing the surface every morning and late afternoon. Three sides of the lake are natural habitat and one side has houses. For anyone local, it’s the lake just east of the Davie Veterans Park lake. The house comes with two kayaks, so I can get anywhere on the lake. 

 

I’m coming from Los Angeles where I pretty much exclusively fish dropshot senkos in deep reservoirs. It’s been years since I’ve fished topwater or in Florida. I’m really looking forward to spending my mornings getting into the kayak right at sunrise and getting after it, and getting off before the heat is too killer. 

 

My question to you is this: how do I crush this honey hole early in the morning on topwater and then keep the bite going a bit longer when they stop popping at the surface?

 

Some pics of the lake are included from the perspective of the deck in case certain areas jump out at anyone with more experience. Really appreciate the help!

 

Also, the house comes with two canoes and I’ve got no fishing partners, so if anyone local wants to get in on the crushage shoot me a line. 

 

Edit: Sorry, pics weren’t able to upload from mobile. I’ll try from my computer later on. 

[Don51]

First of all, be aware of the gators at sunrise! ?. Fishing down here is tough right now with the heat. You can start with topwater but if you don't get bites fish the bottom with plastics. The bite, if you are able to find one usually ends by 10 a.m. 

[Seth Dixon]

Oh man hadn’t thought about gators. Are they in all bodies of water? What do I do if I come across one? Punch it in the mouth?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Seth Dixon said:

Oh man hadn’t thought about gators. Are they in all bodies of water? What do I do if I come across one? Punch it in the mouth?

Yes! Right in the teeth!!! But in all seriousness I fish around gators yearly in south Alabama and never had any trouble. Just keep minding your own business and you should be fine. As long as you don’t have a small dog with you, things seem to work out OK

[Don51]

Yeah, there are probably a couple in there. You may not see them but they are there! Just be aware. Topwater fishing will usually attract them. 

[gnappi]

The biggest problem I have with gators is them chasing lures, sometimes (generally juveniles) they grab one.  

 

Top water lures in summer isn't guaranteed to catch fish but I get most results from frogs. Swimbaits of all sorts will take peacocks (and all cichlids) all day long if the lake has them, just swap colors and tail types if one shuts off. 

 

 

 

[Seth Dixon]

Alright. Thanks for all the input gents!

[Don51]

Let us know how you do. ?

[Seth Dixon]

Hey all. Due to wind, baby duty and me recovering from a minor surgery I wasn’t able to get the kayaks out on the water as early into our stay as I had hoped.  But I finally got my first chance to get out on the kayak Sunday morning. Hit the water at 7am, paddled towards some shade and caught two little dinks on my first two casts using a weightless 4” green pumpkin senko hooked weedless. Figured i was on to something, but after the second cast the bite turned off. Didn’t get another bite the rest of the morning. 

The lake is glass again this afternoon so I think I’ll head out for an afternoon try. The water seems so murky, I’m thinking of throwing something more visible like a morning dawn or a white fluke maybe. Any thoughts?

[Don51]

Yeah, that sounds about right for FL this time of year! If the water is murky try something that gives off some vibration, chatterbait, spinnerbait, even a ratltrap. Any alligator encounters? LOL

[bostonsox2904]

Any luck fishing? Try bank beating the canal off griffin road. You can even try the spillway, especially if the water is flowing. The secondary canals branching off the East-West Griffin road canal are excellent too. Peacocks may be spawning around this time.. you may also run into freshwater snook and tarpon, and of course bass and grass carp. Peacock love the sunshine and heat, so that's your best bet when the topwater action dies and sun comes up.